Side story 1: Zara Lowe and Chris MoyerChris regretted his actions. He stood in front of Zara's car, humbly begging her to stay.He admitted his mistake, saying that the young woman was just a neighbor he grew up with, a childhood crush. He only had eyes for Zara now.Zara looked at his reddened eyes and suddenly remembered the day they had dinner with both their parents to discuss their marriage. She had looked at him the same way, begging him to stay. However, what had he done?…After my business trip, I had half a day to explore the ancient city of Bruneau.Standing alone by the city moat, I rested my hands on the railing, watching the calm flow of the river while listening to the birds chirping cheerfully in the air. There was a faint fragrance of flowers in the breeze.My restless heart gradually calmed down.Suddenly, it began to rain. The fine drizzle fell on me, feeling warm and cool at the same time.I opened the umbrella I had bought at a shop around the corner and
The girl who was being bullied was small and skinny. She was pushed around like a little chick by the bully who held her by the collar, silently shedding tears.I couldn't stand it and kicked the bully, rescuing the girl. I did something good, but why was I the one punished? And it was such an embarrassing punishment.It was at that moment that he came over."Stop crying. I'll help you pick up the trash." After understanding the situation, he patted my head to comfort me.I looked up at his stern yet kind face, feeling deeply moved by the warmth in his eyes. I secretly thought to myself that he seemed like a god.From that day on, 18-year-old Zara Lowe gave her heart to the 24-year-old Chris Moyer. In her eyes and heart, there was no room for anyone else but him.…"Zara, when's a good time to meet? I want to talk to you in person.""Sure." As the saying goes, an elder brother acts like a father. Zachary truly cared about me. "I'll be back tomorrow. Let's meet at the cafe aroun
Zachary angrily jabbed my forehead with his finger, pushing my head back bit by bit. "I just don't get it. You're neither short-sighted nor visually impaired. How did you end up falling for someone who's obviously unreliable like Chris?"And that Faye, who is she? Didn't she disdain Chris for not being able to study abroad? Now that he's become successful, she just conveniently came back to rekindle their past? She knows Chris is with you but still pesters him every day, calling him 'buddy' all the time. In my opinion, she's just phony."Zachary was so angry that he was breathing heavily. He looked like he was ready to beat Chris up.However, I remained calm. I had seen and experienced so much that nothing surprised me anymore.For five years, Chris held the title of my boyfriend but was habitually ignoring me. His usual demeanor was cold and indifferent, treating me like a pet. When he was feeling bored, he would come and pamper me. When something came up, he would discard me. Goi
Thinking about it now, the pain still felt so vivid. I couldn't believe someone I loved so much could be indifferent to me.Seeing that skirt, I suddenly realized that Chris wasn't distant from everyone. He wasn't incapable of hand-washing clothes—he was just cold to me and unwilling to wash my clothes because I didn't matter to him.That skirt was what Faye wore to the dinner when both our parents met for the first time.Chris and I had been together for many years, and he wanted to settle down. So, we arranged for our parents to meet and discuss our marriage.I was so happy that day that I got up early, dressed meticulously, and tried on over ten different skirts. I even changed my hairstyle several times. Then, I went to the shopping mall and carefully selected suitable gifts for his parents. I even ordered a beautiful fruit cake.I did everything I could, down to the smallest details. I wanted to show my best self on that day because our relationship was entering a new chapter
Chris left just like that.His parents, understanding the gravity of the situation, exaggerated their efforts to liven up the atmosphere around the table.They insisted that Chris and Faye were just like siblings who grew up together and were very close. They said Chris couldn't bear to see his so-called sister suffer any grievances and told us not to overthink it.However, who would believe that there was nothing between them? He brought his childhood friend to the dinner where we were supposed to meet the parents and discuss our marriage. He even left me, his girlfriend, and my parents behind because of his childhood friend. The way he prioritized her was way too obvious.His parents tried to discuss our engagement plans with my parents, but my father was uninterested. My mother was visibly upset as well, giving no response.Eventually, they gave up and just focused on the meal. It was obvious to us that they were just putting on a show. If they truly wanted to discuss the eng
I was simply unimportant to him.It was just like the succulents I had on the windowsill. Every day, I would spend at least half an hour tending to them, and if any of them showed the slightest sign of trouble, I would immediately set them aside for extra care.Meanwhile, Chris never looked at those plants. Instead, he would be particularly displeased when I spent time on them. Perhaps, in his eyes, I was just like those succulents—unworthy of his attention and care. He never tried to appreciate them.After hearing my story, Zachary's fists were clenched so tightly that his veins bulged, revealing his anger.I laughed mockingly at myself and tried to calm him down. "Why are you so angry? It was the past anyway."After more than five years together, despite my wholehearted efforts, I couldn't compare with the person in his heart. I used five years to show that my love was just a joke."Damn it, those two bastards have gone too far!" Zachary couldn't hold back and cursed out loud.
Zachary spat out with a dark expression, "Haven't I been strict with you all these years? My throat was dry from all the nagging. If you had listened to even one word, you wouldn't have wasted five years of your life."It was very true.When I first got together with Chris, Zachary had warned me that Chris was unreliable. He said that Chris' eyes only showed indifference and lacked any affection or warmth for me.He said being well-matched in social status wasn't just nonsense or some old-fashioned saying. The Moyers were far superior to our family. As someone from an ordinary family, marrying into the Moyers would be tough. He advised me to think carefully and don't be stubborn.Even though my family was just an ordinary working-class family, they showered me with love. They gave me everything they had without hesitation.Unfortunately, I was so fixated on Chris back then that nothing and no one could stop me from going after him. I confidently told Zachary that Chris loved me an
Chris was standing on the balcony, examining the succulents that I hadn't checked for many days.While I was away, I had thought about sending him a message to ask him to check on them, but then I figured those succulents could survive without water for ten days or so. So, I left it at that.What I didn't expect was that Chris, who used to scoff whenever he saw me tending to those succulents, would now be holding a small spray bottle and playing the role of gardener.This was the first time in the five years we had been together that he had done something like this. It felt strange. Perhaps he knew I was coming back today and was putting on a show.However, why would he do that? Was he trying to show that he realized his mistake and wanted to apologize to me?It was unnecessary anymore.I pushed my suitcase into my room and closed the bedroom door without speaking to him.He remained on the balcony, silently watching me. I knew he was waiting for me to greet him first, but I did
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