Nonetheless, I didn't care if there was conflict. After all, it was their fault, to begin with, and I needed to speak up. Otherwise, they might think Zara was an easy target. That was what good friends were for—to show unwavering support when it mattered most.My words seemed to strike a nerve as Chris' parents' expressions darkened. Chris' mother, in particular, looked enraged. Her face was flushed, and her neck bulged as she raised her bejeweled hand to respond.Just then, a weak voice interrupted. Chris, who had just woken up, spoke hoarsely, his voice grating like rough stones rubbing together. "Dad, Mom, stop it. I don't want any compensation."His mother looked at him. "You foolish boy, look at what she's done to you! How can you not ask for compensation? If it weren't for her, would you be lying here suffering?""Mom, I did this to myself. Zara didn't hurt me. Zara, I'm sorry for everything. You can go home now. I'll come find you once I'm better." Chris struggled to raise h
"Yes, let's expose her completely! Post it in every group, friend circle, and social media platform. Let everyone know what she's done so she becomes a pariah," Zara said, rolling up her sleeves as if ready to charge into battle.If Jasmine were in front of her, Zara would probably unleash a relentless flurry of kicks upon her.Their fierce loyalty touched me deeply. However, as my father always said, "Patience is a virtue."After Jasmine's schemes, not only did Colin manage to thwart her plans, but we also spent our first night together. I reckoned her fury only intensified when he sought me out in the mountains. Being the scheming person that she was, Jasmine would never let things end there. She was bound to come up with more ways to torment us.As such, the evidence I had gathered against her must be wielded at the right moment. I needed to strike when it would hurt her the most, leaving no room for her to retaliate. The timing was crucial, and now wasn't the moment to strike
Nico yelped in pain, quickly stifling his laughter. He knew better than to make fun of me now.After the playful banter, we got down to business. Being professionals, we immediately adopted a serious and focused demeanor. In just over ten minutes, we decided to conduct an on-site investigation in Lagado two days later.With two days until our expedition, we needed to assemble a team, gather the right tools, and formulate a reliable action plan.Having been away for almost two months, opening the door to my house felt incredibly comforting. I couldn't help but collapse onto the couch before grabbing a pillow and hugging it.Zara began, "Luna, it's just you and me now. Tell me honestly, what do you really think about Colin? Jasmine is no pushover, and she's got a malicious streak. If she could drug Colin once, she could do it again. "Colin might have found you once, but what about next time? Or the time after that? You're miles apart. Even if he seeks your help, it might be too lat
Whether or not Colin replied to my message immediately didn't matter because soon, we would be breathing the same air under the same sky again.I hadn't had a decent night's sleep in days because I had been constantly worrying about Colin. However, as the plane climbed to a cruising altitude and stabilized, I was surprised to find myself falling asleep.The plane landed at Lagado Airport at 9:00 pm. The airport was brightly lit, while the night outside was cloaked in darkness. Colin stood at the exit, scanning the crowds for me. As I stepped out, he swiftly strode over, taking my suitcase and grasping my hand tightly in his other hand. "You must be exhausted. Are you cold? Here, take my jacket.""Not at all. I've been sleeping on the plane. I'm wearing a sweater, so I'm not cold. Colin, I missed you." For the first time, I openly expressed my longing for him.Colin tightened his grip on my hand, and his eyes sparkled with delight. The smile on his face reflected his joy as he rep
"What are you afraid of? Is someone threatening you?" Colin became even more anxious. His usually calm demeanor had given way to an agitated state, his hands quivering as they clenched the steering wheel."No, I'm afraid you'll be taken away from me," I finally admitted, and the tears I had managed to suppress began to flow again. "Jasmine is such a devious woman. What if she tricks you into leaving me?"Colin chuckled in response, letting out a long, relieved sigh and gradually lowering his tensed shoulders. With an amused expression, he asked, "Baby, do you lack confidence in yourself or me?""It's not a matter of confidence," I retorted. "Haven't you heard of the saying 'where there's a will, there's a way?' Jasmine's malicious ambitions are obvious to anyone with eyes. No matter how confident I am, I can't stop her machinations. "Besides, it's important to keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Last time, if I hadn't happened to be there, who knows what could have ha
It dawned on me that the one without a sense of security in our relationship was Colin all along."I said you're the man I love. What's wrong with that? Or is it that I'm not your beloved?" I enunciated each word carefully, my gaze fixed on Colin.Although using this method to confirm Colin's love for me was a bit childish, I intended to let him know that I loved him as much as he loved me. My love for him was no less than his for me.Sure enough, his captivating eyes transformed from delight to euphoria.An emotion that could only be described as satisfaction appeared on Colin's face."Baby, do you know? You've never said you love me. And I've often wondered if this was all a dream and that we weren't together after all. "But today, hearing you say you love me, I'm genuinely overjoyed. Thank you, Baby. Thank you for loving me. I love you, deeply and truly, the kind of love that's only meant for you."I embraced Colin and planted a passionate kiss on his lips. "Colin, I love yo
As Colin carried me to the bathroom to clean up, I had a brief moment of clarity, reminding me that I hadn't eaten dinner and was ravenous.The following day, before I even woke up, Nico's phone call rang like a death knell. I squirmed under the covers, my bare body too exhausted and reluctant to respond.I pretended not to hear it, forcing Colin to pick up my phone helplessly."Nico, why are you calling so early in the morning?" Colin's voice was hoarse yet strangely alluring in the quiet morning. Nico chuckled mischievously on the other end, his arrogant tone crystal clear through the phone. "My, my, you're still asleep, Mr. White? You must have had a good night, huh?" Now fully awake, Colin raised an eyebrow and glanced at me with eyes full of sweet, affectionate amusement. He spoke coldly into the phone. "If you've got something to say, say it. Otherwise, I'm hanging up."The stark contrast in his demeanor was remarkable."Wait, don't hang up!" Nico pleaded. "Jessie's team
The feeling of waking up alone after a night of being thoroughly cherished was something only those who had experienced it could truly understand.I couldn't help but wonder when these painfully brief periods of meetings would finally come to an end. It was perplexing how two people deeply in love had such difficulty remaining together.Alas, time was of the essence, leaving me with no spare moments to dwell on these thoughts. After a speedy shower and changing of clothes, I ventured out to find something to eat before meeting up with Nico and Jessie.However, before I could even make it out the door, I noticed several takeout bags and a handwritten note on the small round table by the window.The note said, "Baby, these are your favorite ravioli and oatmeal. Make sure you eat everything. I've also packed your suitcase and added some thick jackets for you. It's going to be tough in the mountains, so take care of yourself. Call me if you need anything. I love you, Baby!"The words
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