Being with Tony was very natural and smooth, and our life together was plain but not dull, with a sense of happiness that belonged to ordinary people.Since we kissed, Tony had let me call him by a nickname. He finally made a bold move, feeling that our relationship was close enough, and made a request to me.Although Tony had no beautiful jewelry to give me, nor did he use his own injuries to make me feel heartache for him, he would still do his best to make me happy.He looked at me with loving eyes while I was teaching the children ballet, watching me surrounded by children. Even when we were together, he never disturbed me, respecting my life and work.He would only present me with a beautiful sunflower during my rest time, then wait for me to give him a smile.It was one he had planted in his own courtyard.Tony said that the sunflower was a flower that grew positively toward the sun, and he hoped that the sunflower he gave me could bring a positive effect to me.After hear
Allison Claire's POVA message from Dr. Eleanor Fitzgerald popped up on my phone.I was studying ballet at New York University but had been missing classes for a month or two due to my part-time job. At this very moment, I didn't even need to check the message to know its content. [Allison Claire, I'm sorry to bother you, but NYU's Tisch School of the Arts has attendance rules. Other professors have noticed your absence. If this continues, the school will have to give you a warning... You have a special talent for ballet, and we would hate to see you leave.] I checked my inbox—it was flooded with emails from other professors asking why I hadn't been to class."This is awful." My voice was still a bit strained from crying the night before. I didn't want to ruin my attendance record or disappoint my professors, but I was at a loss for a better solution to my current troubles. I responded to each email, expressing my apologies for missing classes but avoiding any c
Damien Ravenclaw's mansion was truly breathtaking. As I entered with the dance troupe, I couldn't help but feel awestruck. "Wow, look at that huge stage they've set up just for our performance! Is he some kind of royalty?" whispered someone in the troupe. As the dancers chatted quietly about Damien, I learned he had a background quite different from mine. He had graduated from Stanford, his father was a math professor at the university, and his mother taught humanities. Known for his exceptional skills in numbers since childhood, Damien swiftly rose to become a renowned senior trader in the finance world. People now hailed him as the undefeated Wall Street legend. Damien was indeed a remarkable billionaire, veiled in mystery.In the month leading up to the banquet, I dedicated myself to rehearsals with the troupe. We were gearing up for a performance of "Swan Lake," a beloved ballet classic. The troupe leader had entrusted me with the challenging dual roles of the White Sw
Alex dropped me off at my doorstep. "Allison, can I stay over tonight?" he asked, wrapping me in a hug, his blond hair brushing against my neck before he planted a tender kiss. With my hectic schedule, Alex and I hadn't been able to spend much time together recently. However, with my younger siblings still needing care, I had to decline his request. I offered him a reassuring kiss before he left, a tinge of sadness clouding his expression. Then, I went to check the mail. Among the bills, I found another notice from the hospital regarding my mother's treatment. Just as I began to review it, the hospital called."Sorry to bother you, Ms. Claire. We have sent the bills for your mother's treatment. If payment is delayed, we may need to halt her treatment," the hospital employee informed me before abruptly ending the call. Gazing at the bills, I pondered how many of these warnings I had received. Despite my efforts to stabilize our finances, it felt like an endless struggle. My
After settling on my decision, I took a quick shower.En route to the hotel, I pondered how to inform Alex about the situation. I didn't want to cheat on him while we were still in a relationship. 'Maybe I should break up with him?' I wondered. Just the idea of hurting Alex pained me. Memories of our special times together made it hard for me to dial his number. Instead, I typed a breakup message and sent it. Avoiding my phone, anxious about Alex's potential call, I kept my eyes off the screen. Luckily, he hadn't read the message yet, giving me a momentary sense of relief.Arriving at the upscale five-star hotel Damien had mentioned, I felt awkward stepping inside. The manager greeted me, likely tipped off by Damien. After confirming my name, she escorted me to the elevator and ushered me to the top floor. As the elevator doors opened, Damien came into view. Clad in a bathrobe, he exuded refined charm. Sensing my unease, he poured me a glass of wine. "I want you to enjoy
My whole body was aching. Damien had left kisses all over me, sending me into a frenzy. After our intimate moment, he held me close, and we shared a shower. As we bathed, he tenderly massaged my breasts. Even though I was on the verge of falling asleep, he seemed inclined to continue our sex in the bathroom. After we finished, I got dressed and told Damien I needed to head home. "Sorry, I must look after my younger siblings," I fibbed. Olivia and Daniel were actually at Susan's. We had an agreement—if I didn't fetch them by nightfall, it meant I was at work, and Susan would take care of them. Going home wasn't a pressing need. Spending the night with Damien just felt a bit overwhelming, it was too soon in our budding relationship. "That's a pity. I hope you get a good night's rest once you're home," Damien expressed. He gestured for me to wait, then made a brief call on his phone before hanging up.He held out his hand, and I placed mine in his. We took the ele
When the alarm rang, Alex was still asleep. Groggily, he hugged me tightly, trying to keep me in bed. Planting a kiss on my neck, he murmured, "Stay, Allison. Don't leave me." His eyes remained closed. Instinctively, he was begging me to stay. "Oh, Alex, I've got another part-time job today," I softly explained, untangling his arm.Even in his slumber, Alex seemed to sense my departure, grumbling unhappily. The sunlight cast a warm glow on his handsome face, resembling a perfect statue. Alex was a popular figure at school, admired by many girls, yet his heart belonged solely to me. Back in high school, when a boy pursued me, he once sneaked into my room out of jealousy to prove his superiority in looks, academics, and sports over my suitor."So, you should like me more!" He expressed his mix of hurt feelings and confidence.Blushing, I promptly ushered him out, clarifying that I had no intention of dating the pursuer as I didn't hold any romantic interest in him.Alex
Even though Damien offered to cover all my expenses, I couldn't bring myself to quit my part-time job. Working and earning my own money gave me a sense of purpose. I didn't want to feel aimless. Today, I had a shift at the bakery. After work, I planned to visit my mother in the hospital to check on her.The bakery was quiet that day. The owner's wife and child were at the front while I was in the kitchen, asking the baker how to make the bread softer."Hey, Allison, I'm the boss here. No one knows better than me how to bake bread!" The owner nudged the baker aside, who left while rolling her eyes.It was clear why the baker wasn't fond of the owner—his baking skills were lacking."Thanks, but I already know how to bake the bread. I should go help at the counter now." I brushed past the owner, making my way to the cash register.He halted me by grabbing my arm. "Hey, Allison, why the rush? There are hardly any customers out there. Stay here a bit longer."The other staff fe