When I finally dragged my heavy, leaden legs to an open area, I understood why Colin had asked me that question and why the path seemed so familiar.This was the valley where Colin had been teaching, where heavy rains had triggered the mudslides, and where Jasmine had saved him.A rush of emotions overwhelmed me—love, hate, and something indescribably complex.I loved that the cruel forces of nature hadn't taken Colin's life, but I hated that this was where his entanglement with Jasmine began.With a look of surprise, I turned to Colin. His eyes seemed to glimmer with warmth as he pointed to the newly constructed buildings. "The last disaster caught the attention of many kind-hearted people. They rallied support and raised funds to build a new school for the children in a safer location. "Construction has already started and is expected to be completed before the rainy season. These new buildings will serve as temporary classrooms until then."I uttered, "That's great! Now, they
Although we had filled our backpacks with samples, we hadn't actually covered much ground. The mountain range extended ahead of us, with the same reddish hue permeating the entire landscape. This indicated a rich vein of mineral deposits in this region.Nico and I were both thrilled. If the results were what we hoped for, all the hard work would be worth it. Despite the challenges we had faced in recent weeks, our steps felt lighter with renewed hope.At the final sample site, the surrounding hills had transformed into a vivid reddish hue, extending to the tree branches wedged between the rocks. Looking ahead, the mountains stretching endlessly into the distance were all the same color.Everyone was stunned, and Zuri was so excited that tears welled up in his eyes. Nico had previously mentioned that if the reserves were sufficient, it could pave the way for large-scale mining.If that were the case, Zuri's dream of bringing the younger generation back to work in the village could b
I understood the urgency of a 30-year-old man, but we couldn't get carried away with an audience present. The thought of anyone hearing us was mortifying.This wasn't our well-insulated apartment—a flimsy, poorly sealed door was all that separated us from the outside world. Every sound we made would be crystal clear to those nearby, making it feel like we were broadcasting live.No matter how bold I was, I couldn't bring myself to do it under these circumstances. However, Colin's persistence was overwhelming. Nothing I said could convince him. Once the beast within him was unleashed, there was no reining it without satiating its hunger.Realizing there was no escape, I decided to face the challenge head-on. If we were careful, maybe we wouldn't be heard. Attempting to calm Colin, I agreed to intimacy with strict discretion. We had to control ourselves and make as little noise as possible.Colin agreed quickly, but his body had already taken charge, leaving me unable to contro
Colin's face grew increasingly grim, the light in his eyes replaced by a deep, simmering anger."Maybe you should answer it," I whispered, grasping his hand. "It could be important."Colin briefly squeezed my hand before releasing it to place his phone on silent and tossed it face down on the table. "Even if it is urgent, I can call back later. It's always the same thing. Something's gone wrong at the construction site, and she needs me to deal with it immediately."Despite my efforts to slow our meal, we finished within an hour, and our inevitable parting was upon us once again.Colin picked up his phone, which displayed a staggering 57 missed calls. As the 58th call came in, I couldn't take it anymore. I grabbed the phone and answered it.It was time to confront this issue head-on because avoiding it wouldn't help resolve anything. Since Jasmine knew everything anyway, there was no need to beat around the bush. It was time to break the silence and see what she was up to."Col
Indeed, the saying, "Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a woman scorned," was true.Nonetheless, I couldn't understand why it had to be this way.Colin was clearly upset, so I brought him to my room to calm down instead of letting him leave. With his emotions in a volatile state, he was in no condition to drive, and I couldn't risk his safety.After spending two nights in the village, I had grown accustomed to the absence of bathing amenities, but for Colin, who had only been there for one night, the simplicity of washing with only cold water was far from ideal.The hotel room had the heat on high, making us feel sticky and uncomfortable. Colin had always prided himself on being clean, so I ushered him into the bathroom for a well-deserved soak in a hot bath.The bathroom had a frosted glass wall separating it from the rest of the room. While Colin was inside, I took the opportunity to wash his clothes. After thoroughly cleaning them, I put them
"Uh… Your clothes are done. Do you want to put them on now?" I blurted out, trying to steer the conversation away from suggestive undertones. I shook the freshly dried pair of his underwear in my hand for emphasis.Colin's already intense gaze grew darker as he focused on my hand. "Why put them on if I'm just going to take them off again? It's better not to wear them at all, don't you think so, Baby?" he murmured, moving even closer until our faces were nearly touching.The heat radiating from his body, combined with the moisture still clinging to his skin, made my head spin and my ears buzz.I could feel my body temperature rising, and my legs trembled involuntarily.Colin's words left me speechless.That night, Colin was the epitome of tenderness. He didn't push the limits but held me gently, showering me with soft kisses and caresses. His voice was a low, sultry serenade like the sonorous melody of a cello played amidst a garden of jasmine in the dead of night.Colin's sce
Standing together, Andrew exuded confidence and masculinity, while Queenie was like a Southern Belle with a soft, gentle grace. They truly complemented each other perfectly.In the well-lit airport hall at night, the sparse traffic of travelers was a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of daytime. Under the soft lights, Andrew's features were exquisite and refined, his face filled with indulgence as he gazed lovingly at Queenie. Like a snapshot in time, the moment seared itself into my memory. It drew forth recollections of similar instances where Colin's gaze would meet mine, his presence unwavering whenever I turned around.What is love? This query had echoed in the minds of many, including myself, yet the answer often remained elusive.However, my trip to Lagado gave me a deeper understanding of love, and I found my answer now.The essence of true love was a union of patience and acceptance.For those truly in love, the wait for their beloved was never a burden, and time
Queenie and I exchanged glances, both of us speculating on the kind of person and incident that would make these typically indifferent individuals pause to discuss.Zara's unresponsiveness and absence from home intensified our worries about her safety, so I decided to call her again. This time, she picked up promptly. In the background, there was chaos—someone was sobbing, and faint sounds of an argument could be heard.Zara sounded flustered, explaining that she was at the hospital and the injured person wasn't her. She urged me not to worry and to stay put before abruptly ending the call.Given the circumstances, the neighborhood incident was likely connected to Zara.In Jinovy, besides me and Queenie, Zara only knew the Moyers. Considering that Winston and Zara weren't particularly close, we surmised that the troublemaker was Chris, the big jerk.I hastily threw my luggage into the apartment, washed my face, changed my jacket, and headed to the hospital.The emergency room w
Luna furiously scolded me, asserting that I didn't deserve Queenie's love and that Queenie had been blind to my true colors all those years. Driven mad by desperation, I chased after Queenie, determined to tell her I was wrong and plead for another chance to prove myself. However, the young man intervened, delivering a swift and punishing combination of punches and kicks that knocked me to the ground. Humiliated, I struggled to get up and fight back, unwilling to lose to another man.Despite his youthful appearance, the look in his eyes as he glanced at Queenie was undeniable. It was a blend of love, desire, and possessiveness only a man could understand.I was consumed by the thought that he wasn't worthy of my precious Queenie's love.Nevertheless, my body felt heavy and powerless. It was as if the strength had been drained from me. The blows rained down on me, bringing with them a strange sense of relief amidst the pain. Part of me yearned for him to kick me harder, inflict
I wanted nothing more than to run to Queenie, to hold her tightly and tell her how much I missed her during those endless days apart. I wanted to kiss her deeply and feel the warmth of her embrace. I called out, "Queenie, I'm here."Seeing me seemed to jolt Queenie from her joyous state, replacing it with a vacant expression. Mere moments before, she had been smiling brightly, her eyes aglow with happiness. Now, she appeared lost, her initial elation dissipating into a blank, unresponsive gaze.I couldn't understand why she had turned so distant upon seeing me. The love and joy that once shone in her eyes were nowhere to be found. As I observed her, I wondered if our time apart had caused her to forget. Or perhaps the events of the past had wounded her so profoundly that she had stopped waiting for me.The thoughts terrified me, and I dared not ask for fear of confirming my suspicions. All I wanted was to hold her, kiss her, and tell her how much I missed her. Yet, it seemed tha
I had no interest in Daniela's pregnancy, so I kicked her out of the house. My friends came to console me, each expressing their sympathies with a drink because they didn't know how else to comfort me.The money I had sent to Queenie's account was quickly returned as the account had been closed. Her phone number became unreachable, and when I sought her at her parents' home, I found the elderly couple waiting anxiously for their daughter's return. I lost not only Queenie but any connection to her. I grew disinterested in everything, neglecting my company and spending my days in a drunken haze.Then, my uncle came. We drank through the night as he shared tales of his hardships, the painful memories of his mother, and the years he spent alone, suffering.He said, "Everyone has their fate, Flynn. And choosing one thing often means losing another. Just as you've chosen to fight for the family business, you've sacrificed a part of yourself. But you must rise and fight me with all you'v
Queenie would then jump off the cliff, leaving me to jolt awake in a cold sweat. I endured each twilight in my hopeless vigil, counting down the days.On the 75th day, the door finally unlocked. I stepped outside and realized that this was the neighborhood where Queenie and I lived. All this time, we had been mere yards apart.My mom truly knew how to break a person's spirit. All I had to do was lift my head to see the pomegranate tree planted in our yard.I stumbled toward our home, my wounds screaming as I desperately called for Queenie. But the immaculate house stood eerily silent, echoing my footsteps like thunder.Except for Queenie, every possession remained meticulously in place—the exquisite clothes, expensive jewelry, and designer cosmetics.Queenie was gone, and the thought of losing her drove me into a frenzy.I collapsed in the middle of the room, sobbing uncontrollably. Regret consumed me. I should have never let my family's threats manipulate me and left Queenie to
I clenched my fists, barely resisting the urge to rush over to Queenie's side. All I wanted was to embrace her and whisper assurances that I would protect her, always. But I knew I had no right to do so.My dad's threat hung heavy in my mind, and the stares of Daniela and her mother bore into Queenie like daggers. One wrong move or word and those blades would descend upon Queenie, cutting her to shreds.The pain was unbearable. I felt sorry for Queenie. I was powerless and couldn't help her. With all my heart, I wished for her to stay strong and survive. She deserved better than me. Daniela's mother slapped Queenie, calling her a whore and a homewrecker, accusing her of seducing other people's boyfriends.Queenie stood rigidly, her gaze filled with humiliation. Her lips trembled, and the light in her eyes gradually faded.I winced in agony but held myself together, picking up Daniela and walking away.Countless times afterward, I berated myself for choosing to take Daniela away
We both knew the truth—neither of us could cross the chasm that had formed between our hearts.After that, I went home almost every day. We managed to maintain a semblance of normalcy in our day-to-day lives. We prepared sumptuous dinners and tended to our garden. I even considered adopting a pet to keep Queenie company while I was away.However, no matter how hard we tried, we couldn't rekindle the warmth we had once shared. Queenie hardly smiled anymore. No matter what I did to cheer her up, she would only give a half-hearted smile, her eyes remaining cold and distant.I knew something had transpired during our separation, but she refused to discuss it. My attempts to uncover the truth through private investigators were in vain. Any evidence had been meticulously erased.Eventually, I realized Queenie was simply biding her time, waiting for the moment when she would be forced to relinquish all hope and leave.A month later, my mother joyfully told me that Daniela was pregnant an
I grabbed a brush from the bathroom and scrubbed myself furiously, desperate to wash away the overwhelming sense of filth. Even as the rough bristles tore into my skin, drawing blood and causing searing pain, I felt no closer to feeling clean.My mind was consumed with thoughts of Queenie and the nearly five years we had spent together—the happy moments, the arguments, every single memory.At that moment, I realized I was terrified. Never before had I experienced such abject fear. Knowing Queenie's uncompromising stance on love and fidelity, I knew she would never forgive me once she discovered my transgression.She would undoubtedly turn and leave, heedless of any pleas I might make. I probably wouldn't even have the courage to ask for her forgiveness in the face of her justified anger.I regretted everything. If I had listened to my friends and taken Queenie away from all this, none of this would have happened. But I had hesitated. Even now, I couldn't be certain if my hesitati
Yesterday afternoon, my dad called and demanded that I make a decision within two days, or they would take action.I felt cornered because I genuinely didn't know how to talk to Queenie about this. The mere idea of her packing her belongings and leaving, accompanied by the unspeakable anguish it would inflict upon me, was a burden too heavy to bear.I wasn't sure if I could ever have a semblance of normality in my life again after that.So, I gathered some friends to drink with me. I drank heavily because I had made a decision—a disgraceful, heartless decision. The thought of what I would have to face the next day made life seem hopeless, so I drank even more.Before losing consciousness, I handed my car keys to my assistant, using my last bit of clarity to tell him to take me home no matter what state I was in.Even if it meant returning to the Hayes family's residence, he should not leave me out on the streets. Despite the imminent breakup, I wanted to part ways with Queenie in
My mom proved to be even more ruthless than my dad. She found me, dropped to her knees without a word, and begged me. She reminded me of the years they had spent raising me, pleading that I ensure they wouldn't be left without a sense of security in their old age.In essence, they were pressuring me to abandon everything. I was to pursue money and power for their sake, secure the Hayes family's head position, and ensure our grip on wealth and influence. Their priority was maintaining their luxurious, elevated lifestyle. My happiness, my desires—whether I even wanted those things—meant nothing to them. Sometimes, it felt like I was nothing more than a tool for achieving their ambitions.My dad told me bluntly that he would go after Queenie if I didn't comply. He said, "You're right. I'm incapable of outmaneuvering your uncle. But no matter how incompetent I am, I can easily make Queenie's life in Harveyton unbearable."To be honest, that day was the coldest my heart had ever felt