The queue of children eyed us warily, and I realized that if I actually attempted to squeeze into one of those tiny carts behind the little monkeys, the feasibility aside, the accusatory glances from the kids alone would be enough to make me shrink in embarrassment. This was hardly comforting. It was more like adding to my stress even though I had never ridden the monkey carts before.That day, Colin and I wandered around the amusement park without trying a single ride because the lines were too long.In the end, he bought me a stick of cotton candy, which cheered me up a bit as I savored it on the way home.When we entered the house, Colin took off my coat without a word and whisked me into the bathroom. His actions startled me so much that I reflexively wrapped my arms around his neck and screamed, "Let go! What are you doing?""Baby, you must be exhausted. I'm going to give you a bath and a massage. It's free, and satisfaction is guaranteed," Colin said as he earnestly began p
"But Colin, I haven't earned enough money to support you yet," I said, running my fingers through his thick hair.Colin replied, "It's okay. I can take care of you. I'll make lots of money and hand it all to you. You just need to wait for me at home while I face all the storms outside."I had no intention of being the woman behind Colin. What I wanted was to walk alongside him instead of being an idle housewife."Colin, are you asking me to give up on my dreams?" I asked.Colin paused for a moment before murmuring, "No, I just want to hide you away so that no one else can see you.""Did something happen?" I asked, confused."Not really. It's just that I don't like the way other people look at you. Baby, I'm jealous," Colin admitted.I couldn't help but chuckle softly at his sulking. Colin's jealousy was quite cute."Don't worry. My feelings for you will never change," I said, patting his head as if comforting a large, lovable golden retriever that had been wronged.After a lon
Colin stared at me, his expression frozen in a mix of confusion and contemplation. I thought he had misunderstood and was preparing to clarify my position further when he suddenly wrapped his arms around me and rested his head on my shoulder without saying a word.I patted his back uneasily. "Colin, what's wrong? Did I say something wrong?"He said, "No, I'm just touched. I thought you didn't want to have a baby with me, but I was wrong. You're willing to have my child, aren't you?"I had never seen Colin so uncertain and vulnerable. I might never have known he felt this way if he hadn't spoken. However, I was confused about why he would think I didn't want a child with him. After all, we had long since committed to each other."Of course, I'm willing," I reassured Colin. "You're the only one I want to have children with. I've thought about it. We'll have two kids. Our daughter will look like me, and our son will look like you. We'll raise them together and make them the happiest
I stood by the roadside, rubbing my sore arms and trying to figure out how to get home. The ride-hailing app showed a queue of over 400, which meant it would be tomorrow morning before I could get a car.At times like this, I desperately wished for a driver's license so that I could buy my own car and enjoy the freedom to go wherever I pleased.I pulled out my phone and called Colin, asking him to come and pick me up. Just then, a gray Bugatti pulled up next to me. The window rolled down, revealing a young, handsome face.To my surprise, it was Ivan. He greeted me with a smile from the driver's seat.His presence confused me. After all, according to romance novel tropes, young heirs like Ivan should be spending days like this indulging in extravagant parties with their entourage. Instead, he was casually greeting me on the roadside.Unaware of my thoughts, Ivan stepped out of the car. "Ms. Lawson, long time no see. Are you waiting for someone?"I instinctively took a step back. E
It seemed that Colin had completely glossed over my request for him to come pick me up and was more concerned about the fact that I was riding with Ivan.I could almost picture the look of jealousy on Colin's face as I read his response. I chuckled, thinking, "Goodness, with Colin's jealous streak, I doubt I'll ever befriend another man."I typed, "I just ran into him, that's all.""Alright, I'll wait for you at the gates," Colin responded.As I lifted my head, I noticed Ivan observing me with a smile on his face. His expression was inscrutable as he said, "Chatting with your boyfriend, huh? Mr. White seems like a great guy—smart, talented, and handsome to boot. "And you, a real dazzler among women. If there was a match made in heaven, it'd be you two! I bet he treats you real nice, doesn't he?""Yes, Colin is extremely good to me. He's the only person in this world who loves me as much as my dad, if not more," I emphasized, trying to convey how special Colin was to me.Ivan qu
I wanted to tell my mom that I was almost done with my studies and would soon be a master's student of Jesselton College.However, after deliberation, I decided against it because I doubted they cared. After all, their main concern was for me to ask fewer questions, not actually to encourage me to study.The day before Mardi Gras, my curiosity got the best of me. Being excluded from my mom's secret planning felt particularly uncomfortable. So, I asked Colin if he knew anything about the big plans our moms seemed to be cooking up. I couldn't take how their conspiring had noticeably increased and their knowing smiles were becoming more unsettling.Colin was standing at his desk, one hand behind his back and the other holding a pen. He was writing with an air of calm authority. He looked up, his expression serious. "Let them conspire all they want. It's not like they'll sell us off or anything."His nonchalant response made me pause. The more I thought about it, the more sense it ma
Both Mom and I were in a distracted state, and we exchanged words for about 15 minutes until her phone chimed. She checked the message, then waved her hand, signaling that I could leave.The incredulity of the situation was baffling. After all, she was inside my bedroom acting like she owned it.Feeling frustrated and curious, I reluctantly opened the door and stepped out.However, the moment I opened the door, I was stunned. A sea of dazzling red roses filled the living room, covering every available surface. The air was thick with the sweet, intoxicating scent of roses, making my heart race.Memories of my birthday flooded back to me when Colin filled an entire hotel room with roses. But today, he had outdone himself.Amidst the roses, I saw the man I loved. He was dressed impeccably, looking as dashing as ever and full of deep affection for me. The world fell silent. It seemed as if only the two of us existed at that moment.Someone turned off the lights, and for a brief momen
Being proposed to in front of our parents made me blush with embarrassment, and for a moment, I felt somewhat at a loss.I had read countless novels and seen many proposals in stories. But experiencing it myself, I realized the depth of emotion that could make one willingly give their whole life to someone.Hannah clapped her hands and chanted, "Say yes! Say yes!"The soft glow of candlelight enveloped us, illuminating our faces with a warm radiance. Colin stood before me, his eyes shimmering with anticipation.My nose tingled as a surge of emotion filled my chest. A sweet, overwhelming joy rose within me. It was a happiness born of love and contentment. Colin was the love of my life, and there was no way I would refuse his proposal. Besides, I had made up my mind long ago. No matter how the world might change or if it were to crumble around us, I would marry Colin and no one else. I had already promised myself to him."I do," I said firmly, my voice filled with conviction.C
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